I don't think that leaving Chelsea having the ball as much as Swansea did in the first half would be good. Hopefully we are more energetic and doesn't wait all the time to hit them in counterattack, but we should attack them first. With the player we have it is very possible to attack them hard in the beginning.
Manchester United vs. Chelsea
- Thread starter Damien
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Looking forward to this one, first game of the season at OT. Might get there a bit earlier than normal to soak up the atmosphere and give the chavs some shit.
I am a little surprised at the number of people starring Rooney in this one, particularly with the likes of Kagawa and Hernandez now fully recovered from their recent globe trotting.
Too much of an unknown quantity for my liking. Potential conflict of interests and you don't know that will manifest itself, he could either be too up for the right and out to prove something for himself rather than being in sync with the team, a walking yellow/red card or just disjointed.
I think we should expect Chelsea to officially up their bid some time between Friday and Monday evening, attempt to rock the boat.
Too much of an unknown quantity for my liking. Potential conflict of interests and you don't know that will manifest itself, he could either be too up for the right and out to prove something for himself rather than being in sync with the team, a walking yellow/red card or just disjointed.
I think we should expect Chelsea to officially up their bid some time between Friday and Monday evening, attempt to rock the boat.
I hope we rest Mata midweek again, scrape a win over Villa and play him on monday.
I'd go with:
de Gea
Jones
Ferdinand
Vidic
Evra
Valencia
Carrick
Cleverley
Kagawa
Welbeck
van Persie
SUBS: Lindegaard, Smalling, Evans, Anderson, Zaha, Nani/Young/Hernandez, Rooney.
Hopefully one of those three will be fit, if not, Giggs can take his place on the bench. Yes I've laid that out as a 4-4-2 but Kagawa, Welbeck and van Persie are all so adept at dropping deep and taking the place of the extra midfield man that we should have enough bodies in that front six to combat them - whilst still having some pace and flair in attack.
de Gea
Jones
Ferdinand
Vidic
Evra
Valencia
Carrick
Cleverley
Kagawa
Welbeck
van Persie
SUBS: Lindegaard, Smalling, Evans, Anderson, Zaha, Nani/Young/Hernandez, Rooney.
Hopefully one of those three will be fit, if not, Giggs can take his place on the bench. Yes I've laid that out as a 4-4-2 but Kagawa, Welbeck and van Persie are all so adept at dropping deep and taking the place of the extra midfield man that we should have enough bodies in that front six to combat them - whilst still having some pace and flair in attack.
I think Kagawa will have to train really well to make this one, he's looked very rusty in pre-season. I guess it's the same with Nani, although he looked great in his half hour. Out of the two I'd be tempted to go with Nani just because I think out wide is where we'll hurt them and I think their defence is quite slow, get Nani/Valencia one on one against some of their defenders and as we've seen in the past they'll fly by them. Really annoying the timing of this game, we've just got so many senior players who won't have player much and they don't have those injuries and have an extra game to get that little bit more sharpness.
Nani was awful in the fa cup games against us last season, I dont think he will play. Got a feeling you'll find room for Kagawa on this one.
de Gea
Jones Ferdinand Vidic Evra
Carrick Cleverley
Valencia Giggs Welbeck
van Persie
I see no reason to not go with the team that bet Swansea.Jones Ferdinand Vidic Evra
Carrick Cleverley
Valencia Giggs Welbeck
van Persie
I think so too. Perhaps have Kagawa for Giggs.
It will probably be a similar line up to the last two games. If Rooney plays then he'll take Giggs' place in the line up. Not sure if Moyes would throw Kagawa straight into the Chelsea game.
Nor me, only one who I may be tempted to drop would be Giggs but he does have history of playing well against Chelsea
In the game at Old Trafford he played well before going off injured. Had a shocker at SB admittedly.
No he wasn't, scored a great goal in the first leg and generally as good as most who played. Was poor in second leg but so was everyone. In general though Nani has been good against you guys, same with Valencia.
Nani didn't score in the FA Cup tie, Rooney and Hernandez did
Think he means the COC
I love monday night football 
As said, that was in the COC. the last few times hes played against us hes been poor. Hernandez is still the one to fear for us.
Kagawa played for Japan on international duty and scored although articles can only tell you so much, did anyone here watch the game in its entirety? If so, do you think any pointers can be taken from that performance in so far as his chances for starring here?
Well there's always a chance for a return to form, as I said in general he's been good against you guys and I think it's from wide where we'll have the most chance to do well. Yeah Hernandez will be a miss, hopefully can make the bench.
I dunno, but I really doubt he'll start given he's played no games for us in pre-season and guess it will be questionable to see if he makes the bench, hopefully he will.
Giggs wasn't great against Swansea IMO, and niether was Cleverley. I would prefer Kagawa, Nani or even Rooney to Giggs if they are match ready
Yeah as much as I will defend Giggs playing against Swansea he wouldn't be my first choice if others are fit but in fairness it will be hard for Moyes to see, we've got no competitive games till next week and Kagawa has looked poor in pre-season, Nani has barely featured and Rooney will be a hard call to make. I suppose there's a chance he goes with ando, clev and carrick in a three although that wouldn't be ideal for me. Guess we shouldn't rule out Jones in the middle with Smalling at RB either although again no ideal.
Yeah depends how they all train before the game and whether they are match fit. Kagawa didn't look ready in preseason but didn't he come back late because of the Confederations?
He might be ready now, if he is I'd much prefer him to Giggs who wasn't great against Swansea and Kagawa gives more energy/pressing which would be good against Chelsea
He might be ready now, if he is I'd much prefer him to Giggs who wasn't great against Swansea and Kagawa gives more energy/pressing which would be good against Chelsea
Giggs hardly put a foot wrong and assisted a goal.
Not sure what you were watching but okay
Must have imagined that 66% passing accuracy
RVP too. Hat trick at the bridge.
Rooney, for United, and Welbeck, for Sunderland, haven't done too badly either.
Yeah same, but like I said, it will be hard to judge how sharp he is without playing a proper match ahead of the chelsea game, that's why I though it was odd he didn't come on for a bit of the Swansea game.
That's true to be fair, would have been good to get some minutes to judge where hes at.
Maybe Rooney getting some means he's in Moyes' plans to start.
Could be but that's a tough call, even if we're adamant that he won't be sold, until the window closes it'll always be awkward for him and no more so than against Chelsea. Only would take a seconds hesitation to really cost us.
Moyes may play Rooney up front....
expected line-up:
De Gea
Jones Rio Vidič Evra
Carrick Cleverley
Valencia Rooney Welbeck
RvP
(all of these players (Nani, Kagawa or Hernandez) have barely or haven't played yet for United under Moyes, therefore I doubt he'll start them in a game of this magnitude purely because of that if not anything else, the only one I could see starting is Kagawa, but I still think he'd rather go for Rooney, seems logical given the circumstances)
what I want to see:
De Gea
Fabio Rio Vidič Evra
Carrick Cleverley (yes I'm sticking with him)
Welbeck Kagawa Rooney
RvP
(I think this front 4, or by replacing one of them with Nani for instance really serves up something different, because they're pretty much all interchangable and able to play in each of their respectable positions, ofcourse the formation generaly stays "solid", it's not like you'd see Kagawa leading the line, but when they're going at Chelsea this aspect could help a lot, because defenders can really get shaken up by having to drop/switch or follow a certain player...even 2 players interchanging positions can cause havoc for some, why not double that, we certainly have the personel and the quality for it)
with Chicharito, Zaha, Valencia, Nani, Anderson, Jones and Lindegaard on the bench.
(depending on how the game is going and where Chelsea seem more vulnerable at the time Chicharito can come on and get you a winner/equalizer at any point, and his goal tally against Chelsea is marvelous, Zaha could be the "mistery card" and I have high hopes for him, I'm pretty sure Mourinho hasn't bothered with (over)analyzing Zaha (yet
), Valencia would be the simple yet effective wide option, Nani (on his day) an all around threat, while having to be weary of him from wide positions he can also tear defenders a new one in a 1v1 situation and/or by cutting inside, Anderson to inject some energy into the middle of the field, and Jones in case we need to protect a lead, or one of our midfielders/defenders is close to a red card or god forbid goes off injured.
De Gea
Jones Rio Vidič Evra
Carrick Cleverley
Valencia Rooney Welbeck
RvP
(all of these players (Nani, Kagawa or Hernandez) have barely or haven't played yet for United under Moyes, therefore I doubt he'll start them in a game of this magnitude purely because of that if not anything else, the only one I could see starting is Kagawa, but I still think he'd rather go for Rooney, seems logical given the circumstances)
what I want to see:
De Gea
Fabio Rio Vidič Evra
Carrick Cleverley (yes I'm sticking with him)
Welbeck Kagawa Rooney
RvP
(I think this front 4, or by replacing one of them with Nani for instance really serves up something different, because they're pretty much all interchangable and able to play in each of their respectable positions, ofcourse the formation generaly stays "solid", it's not like you'd see Kagawa leading the line, but when they're going at Chelsea this aspect could help a lot, because defenders can really get shaken up by having to drop/switch or follow a certain player...even 2 players interchanging positions can cause havoc for some, why not double that, we certainly have the personel and the quality for it)
with Chicharito, Zaha, Valencia, Nani, Anderson, Jones and Lindegaard on the bench.
(depending on how the game is going and where Chelsea seem more vulnerable at the time Chicharito can come on and get you a winner/equalizer at any point, and his goal tally against Chelsea is marvelous, Zaha could be the "mistery card" and I have high hopes for him, I'm pretty sure Mourinho hasn't bothered with (over)analyzing Zaha (yet
), Valencia would be the simple yet effective wide option, Nani (on his day) an all around threat, while having to be weary of him from wide positions he can also tear defenders a new one in a 1v1 situation and/or by cutting inside, Anderson to inject some energy into the middle of the field, and Jones in case we need to protect a lead, or one of our midfielders/defenders is close to a red card or god forbid goes off injured.Just booked my flight from the States last week and now thanks Token Sheet, good friend and member I've now got a ticket.
Can't believe I'm making THIS game.
Can't believe I'm making THIS game.
Like others have said, same team as Saturday except Rooney for Giggs.
De Gea, Jones, Vidic, Ferdinand, Evra, Carrick, Cleverley, Valencia, Rooney, Welbeck, Persie
Moyes will know if Rooney is in the right frame of mind to play. If he is not, then probably Giggs again.
De Gea, Jones, Vidic, Ferdinand, Evra, Carrick, Cleverley, Valencia, Rooney, Welbeck, Persie
Moyes will know if Rooney is in the right frame of mind to play. If he is not, then probably Giggs again.
Our game plan against Swansea was perfect, and worked fairly well: let them have the ball when they're passing it around harmlessly in their own half, and put the pressure on when they actually try to attack. That meant they didn't dominate possession - 50% either way - but that we didn't have to run ourselves silly chasing the ball. And in the end we dominated in terms of good chances (and, obviously, in terms of finishing off those chances).
Against Chelsea our gameplan will need to be very different. Stopping them from dominating the ball is more achievable - their best ball-players are up at the business end, whereas the likes of Lampard and Ramires can be pressed into making mistakes or trying rash passes. Unlike Swansea, letting Chelsea have too much of the ball would be a mistake, since if Mata, Oscar and Hazard get too much of it, they absolutely will be able to hurt us.
So we should be looking to dominate possession, strangle the supply lines to the three amigos by pressing the feck out of Lampard and Ramires (Welbeck is an absolute must for his early ball-winning abilities if nothing else), and essentially not allow Chelsea to build up attacking momentum. We want the central midfield to be congested and difficult to penetrate. We shouldn't need to worry about the flanks too much, because as usual what wide threat they do have tends to end up cutting inside. Plus crossing the ball in open play has little pay-off for them unless they start someone like Lukaku. A front four of Mata, Hazard, Oscar and Torres has little aerial threat.
We, on the other hand, should make use of the fact that we have wide players who are effective both coming inside and hugging the touchine. When we're defending, the likes of Valencia and Welbeck can tuck in, clog the midfield up and press the shit out of Chelsea's CMs. Then when we win the ball back, they can push wide again to provide an outlet (and a crossing goal-threat) of the sort which Chelsea don't really have.
Probably the most important thing will just be to start at 100 miles an hour. Mourinho teams hurt you and establish dominance early on. Get the better of them for the first 10/20 minutes, and they may never get into their rhythm. Start slowly, and they'll have us rattled and on the defensive from the start.
Against Chelsea our gameplan will need to be very different. Stopping them from dominating the ball is more achievable - their best ball-players are up at the business end, whereas the likes of Lampard and Ramires can be pressed into making mistakes or trying rash passes. Unlike Swansea, letting Chelsea have too much of the ball would be a mistake, since if Mata, Oscar and Hazard get too much of it, they absolutely will be able to hurt us.
So we should be looking to dominate possession, strangle the supply lines to the three amigos by pressing the feck out of Lampard and Ramires (Welbeck is an absolute must for his early ball-winning abilities if nothing else), and essentially not allow Chelsea to build up attacking momentum. We want the central midfield to be congested and difficult to penetrate. We shouldn't need to worry about the flanks too much, because as usual what wide threat they do have tends to end up cutting inside. Plus crossing the ball in open play has little pay-off for them unless they start someone like Lukaku. A front four of Mata, Hazard, Oscar and Torres has little aerial threat.
We, on the other hand, should make use of the fact that we have wide players who are effective both coming inside and hugging the touchine. When we're defending, the likes of Valencia and Welbeck can tuck in, clog the midfield up and press the shit out of Chelsea's CMs. Then when we win the ball back, they can push wide again to provide an outlet (and a crossing goal-threat) of the sort which Chelsea don't really have.
Probably the most important thing will just be to start at 100 miles an hour. Mourinho teams hurt you and establish dominance early on. Get the better of them for the first 10/20 minutes, and they may never get into their rhythm. Start slowly, and they'll have us rattled and on the defensive from the start.
Or maybe Kagawa will be ready to play by then? I'd have either him or Rooney ahead of Giggs. Giggs does very little defensively at the moment, which is the opposite of what we need against Chelsea, whose attacks have to be stopped in central midfield, before they get to that AM trio.
using Giggs as anything else except a potential impact sub in this game is a "death wish" on our end...and it hurts to write this, but the truth is the truth.
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